Double earthquakes strike Kuril Islands region

KURIL ISLANDS – The second strong earthquake in the Kuril Islands, in less than 24 hours, poses no tsunami threat to Hawaii, according to officials at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The preliminary magnitude-6.7 temblor, which struck at 2:53 a.m. Hawaii time, had an epicenter 57 miles southeast of Ozernovskiy, Russia at a depth of 25 miles, officals at the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The 6.7 magnitude earthquake was followed by a 6.5 aftershock- making it the third major quake to strike the Kuril Island regions in the last day. There were no injuries immediately reported. The Kuril Islands lies in the volatile bulleye of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and the region is prone to very large magnitude earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. –Star Adviser, TEP